Traffic indicator



J. C. BEAM TRAFFIC INDICATOR Filduqv. 2s, 1921 May l2, 1925.

CTI

Pateilted May 12, 1925.

UNITED STATES JACOB C. BEAM, 0F PHILLIPSBURG, NEW JERSEY.

TRAFFIC INDICATOR.

To all whom t may concem:

Be it known that I, JACOB C. BEAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Phillipsburg, in the countyof Warren and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traffic Indicators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to signals 'de signed chieiy for use in connectlon with motor vehicles, whereby to indicate the intention of the driver when about to stop or to turn to the right or left, so that drivers of following Vehicles and those approaching may govern themselves accordingly and ob` viate confusion and accidents.

The signal is constructed so that one may be disposed at the front of the machine or vehicle and one in the .rear thereof, bot-h ,signals being operated simultaneouslyv to ve a like indication both at the front and 1n the rear of the machine, each device containing a pair of electric lamps which are included in independent circuits, and each of the circuits having a switch for making and breaking the circuit as required.

Other objects and advantages will be ap! parent and suggest themselves as the natura of the invention is understood.

While the drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet difierent conditions and requirements,.various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention. v

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application,

Figure 1 is a perspectlve view of a signal embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3--3 of Figurel, and

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the indicating ends.

Corresponding and like arts are referred to in the following descrlption and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

Thel signal embodies a box 1 which `is open Application led November 26, 1921. Serial No. 517,874.

-at opposite ends and has portions cut from the ront of opposite ends as indicated at 2. A partition 3 is disposed midwa the ends of the box and forms end cham ers. The partition 3 is provided upon op osite sides with sockets 4 which are adapte to receive lamp bulbs 5. Lead wires 6 have connection with the sockets 4 in the usual way so as to supply current to the lamps 5. The box 1 preferably consists of sheet metal and ma be of any desired proportions.I

n indicating end 7 is fitted to each end of the box 1 and preferably consists of glass and is hollow, the front wall of the glass being iat and having a groove 6a to accommodate the adjacent wires 6 whereas the rear wall is curved and merges into the top and bottom walls, whereby to provide a refleeting surface which is`silvered or otherwise coated to reflect rays of light and project the same through the front wall.A The outer portion of the end 7 is frosted or otherwise prepared so as to diffuse the rays of light with the exception of a portion of the front, which is transparent so as not to obstruct the rays of light projected therethrough. The transparent portion of the front wall of the part 7 conforms to the i outline of an arrow as indicated at 8, said arrow being disposed to point outwardly whereby to indicate the direction of turn when illuminated. The inner portion of the indicating end 7 is connected with the box 1 by means of a slip joint and the` front wall covers the cut-away portion 2 of the box.A Indentations 9 are formed inthe upperand lower walls of the indicating end 7 and receive the irmer ends of screws 10 which are threaded into the top and bottom of the box 1.' V In this manner, the indicating ends 7 are retained in place.

The box is. provided Wit-h a suitable clamp 11 or other attaching means whereby it may be connected to a suitable portion of the ve- 1. The lamps or bulbs 5 are then applied after which the signal ends are inserted or telescoped into the box at the opposite ends -thereof and thereafter fastened by the elements 10.

In practice, one of the devices is located at the front of the machine and one in the rear thereof, and corresponding lamps are included in the same circuit so that when the driver is about .to make a turn to the right both the front and rear lamps on the right hand slde of the vehicle are lighted and if the turn is to be to the left, the front and rear lamps on the left hand side of the machine are lighted. When the driver is about to stop both sets'of lamps are 1i hted, thereby indicating that no turn is to s made but that the vehicle is about to be brou ht to a standstill. The switch for control ing the circuit may be of any preferred type and may be disposed upon the steering wheel or other convenient part of the machine so as to be readily accessible by the driver.

What is claimed is:

An indicator of the class described comprising an open ended substantially rectangular casing and having an integral partition therein intermediate of its ends, a socket for the reception of a lamp secured to each side of said partition, the front portion of said casing being partly out away on each side of said partition to rovide openings for the radiation of llght therethrough, an indicating member 1nserted into each end of the casing and consisting of a hollow body of light penetrable materlal, said members being formed to fit the ends of the casing and eachhaving an opening in its inner end to receive the sockets referred to, the front wall of each member being flat and having a transparent indicating device thereon partly exposed by the cut away portions of the casing, the remainder of the front of the indicating member being formed to diffuse light rays, the top, bottom and rear walls of the indicating member not covered by the casing being curved and merging into the front wall and provided with a light reiecting surface.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB C. BEAM.

Witnesses:

OLIVER WARNER, JOHN H. SANDjr. 

